Oren L Harrison (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Oren Lee Harrison, son of Raymond and DeRona (Bilyeu) Harrison, was born October 1, 1930, in Granite City, Illinois. He departed this life Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Mercy Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years, seven months, and nineteen days.
On May 30, 1959, he was united in marriage to Walta Jeanne Wilson, and together they shared forty-six loving years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Walta, on October 20, 2005; and a sister, Anna Mae.
Oren is survived by a daughter, Debra Jackson, and her husband, Jerry, of Lake Mary, Florida; three grandchildren, Matt Rutherford, and his wife, Casey, of Lincoln, Missouri, Ali Duit, and her husband, Chad, of Bois D’Arc, Missouri, and Ian Rutherford, and his wife, Jaime, of St. Louis, Missouri; seven great-grandchildren, Cade and Grayson Rutherford, Chase, Cora Jeanne, and Alivia Duit, Griffen and Nora Rutherford; two brothers, Clayton Harrison, of Goreville, Illinois, and John Harrison, of Indianola, Iowa; a sister, Ollie Derr, of Granite City, Illinois; and other relatives and friends.
He was born, raised and educated in Granite City, Illinois, and played on the winning Granite City High School Baseball Championship Team in 1948. He then joined the United States Navy and served his country faithfully from 1951 until 1955. He was stationed on the Battleship the USS Iowa during part of the Korean War. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Oren returned to Granite City, where he and Walta were married and they lovingly raised their daughter. Oren worked as an electrician for several companies and then was a custodian in the Granite City School District. Soon after retiring, he and Walta moved to a farm near Lebanon, Missouri.
Oren was a longtime member of the Methodist Church, the American Legion, and was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge # 877. He enjoyed both fast & slow pitch softball, bowling, golf, vegetable gardening, daily Bible reading, writing in his journal, taking long walks with his dogs, feeding the birds, and, of course, counting his cattle. He also liked all wildlife.
He loved his family dearly, and at the top of his list was his love and devotion to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will always cherish the wonderful memories he has left with all of us.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Wounded Warriors Project, or First United Methodist Church , and left at the funeral home.
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